Free The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie Page B

stuff.”
    I hesitated. She slipped a small soft hand into mine.
    â€œ Please —there’s a dear.”
    I capitulated. Secretly, I knew that I should rather enjoy the part of showman.
    We repaired first to the spot where the body had been discovered. A man was on guard there, who saluted respectfully, knowing me by sight, and raised no questions as to my companion. Presumably he regarded her as vouched for by me. I explained to Cinderellajust how the discovery had been made, and she listened attentively, sometimes putting an intelligent question. Then we turned our steps in the direction of the villa. I proceeded rather cautiously, for, truth to tell, I was not at all anxious to meet anyone. I took the girl through the shrubbery round to the back of the house where the small shed was. I recollected that yesterday evening, after re-locking the door, M. Bex had left the key with the sergent de ville, Marchaud, “In case Monsieur Giraud should require it while we are upstairs.” I thought it quite likely that the Sûreté detective, after using it, had returned it to Marchaud again. Leaving the girl out of sight in the shrubbery, I entered the house. Marchaud was on duty outside the door of the salon. From within came the murmur of voices.
    â€œMonsieur desires Monsieur Hautet? He is within. He is again interrogating Françoise.”
    â€œNo,” I said hastily, “I don’t want him. But I should very much like the key of the shed outside if it is not against regulations.”
    â€œBut certainly, monsieur.” He produced it. “Here it is. Monsieur Hautet gave orders that all facilities were to be placed at your disposal. You will return it to me when you have finished out there, that is all.”
    â€œOf course.”
    I felt a thrill of satisfaction as I realized that in Marchaud’s eyes, at least, I ranked equally in importance with Poirot. The girl was waiting for me. She gave an exclamation of delight as she saw the key in my hand.
    â€œYou’ve got it then?”
    â€œOf course,” I said coolly. “All the same, you know, what I’m doing is highly irregular.”
    â€œYou’ve been a perfect duck, and I shan’t forget it. Come along. They can’t see us from the house, can they?”
    â€œWait a minute.” I arrested her eager advance. “I won’t stop you if you really wish to go in. But do you? You’ve seen the grave, and the grounds, and you’ve heard all the details of the affair. Isn’t that enough for you? This is going to be gruesome, you know, and—unpleasant.”
    She looked at me for a moment with an expression that I could not quite fathom. Then she laughed.
    â€œMe for the horrors,” she said. “Come along.”
    In silence we arrived at the door of the shed. I opened it and we passed in. I walked over to the body, and gently pulled down the sheet as Bex had done the preceding afternoon. A little gasping sound escaped from the girl’s lips, and I turned and looked at her. There was horror on her face now, and those debonair high spirits of hers were quenched utterly. She had not chosen to listen to my advice, and she was punished now for her disregard of it. I felt singularly merciless towards her. She should go through with it now. I turned the corpse over gently.
    â€œYou see,” I said. “He was stabbed in the back.”
    Her voice was almost soundless.
    â€œWith what?”
    I nodded towards the glass jar.
    â€œThat dagger.”
    Suddenly the girl reeled, and then sank down in a heap. I sprang to her assistance.
    â€œYou are faint. Come out of here. It has been too much for you.”
    â€œWater,” she murmured. “Quick. Water.”
    I left her, and rushed into the house. Fortunately none of the servants were about, and I was able to secure a glass of water unobserved and add a few drops of brandy from a pocket flask. In a few minutes I was back